Normal approximation for Gibbs processes via disagreement couplings

Abstract

This work improves the existing central limit theorems (CLTs) for geometric functionals of Gibbs processes in three aspects. First, we derive a CLT for weakly stabilizing functionals, thereby improving on the previously used assumption of exponential stabilization. Second, we show that this CLT holds for interaction ranges up to the percolation threshold of the dominating Poisson process. This avoids imprecise branching bounds from graphical construction. Third, by constructing simultaneous couplings of several Palm processes for Gibbs functionals, we provide a quantitative CLT in terms of Kolmogorov bounds for normal approximation. An important conceptual ingredient in these advances is the extension of disagreement coupling adapted to unbounded windows and to the comparison at multiple spatial locations.

45 pages, 2 figures